Head Support

ABSTRACT

A head support made from an adjustable loop of bendable material comprising a top and a bottom portion, the bottom portion being connected to the top portion for supporting the top portion when the bottom portion is disposed against a user&#39;s chest. The top portion comprising two side portions, each side portion having a length sufficient to extend rearward from a user&#39;s chin at least as far as the user&#39;s cheekbone and at least partially extending above a bottom portion of the user&#39;s jaw.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/575,917, entitled “TheNAPP BUDDEE”, filed on Aug. 31, 2011, and the specification and claimsthereof are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)

The present invention relates to portable head supports, and moreparticularly to a head support that supports a user's head in anupright, ergonomically correct, comfortable position, preventing theuser's head from falling forward or laterally while sleeping in asitting position. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention areshock absorbent, since a user's head and vertebrae can align properly,providing a feeling of weightlessness and aid in stabilizing a user'shead in any type of shock or sudden velocity change.

2. Description of Related Art

Head support devices are widely used by travelers. However, none of thehead support devices currently in the market effectively prevent theuser's head from tilting forward or laterally at the same time, whichnaturally occurs while sleeping in a sitting position, or avoid puttingpressure on the carotid arteries, jugular veins, or the trachea. Inaddition, most known devices are held in place with the aid of a neckstrap that puts forward pressure on the user's upper neck region causingdiscomfort and possibly injuring the vertebrae. Also, most devicesinterfere with the user's carotid arteries, jugular veins, or tracheasuch that when the user falls asleep, the devices put pressure againstthem.

Embodiments of the present invention solve this problem by providingapparatuses that comprise a shape that folds around a user's chin withsides having a length sufficient to extend rearward from a user's chinat least as far as a user's cheekbone and at least partially extendingabove a bottom portion of the user's jaw, effectively preventing theuser's head from tilting forward or laterally while sleeping in asitting position. Additionally, embodiments of the present inventioncomprise one or more straps attached to the apparatuses, which extendover the user's back and hold the apparatuses in place when the userreclines against a seat pressing against the straps.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention comprise head supports comprisingan adjustable loop comprising a bendable material comprising a top and abottom portion, the bottom portion being connected to the top portionfor supporting the top portion when the bottom portion is disposedagainst a user's chest. The top portion comprises two side portions,each side portion having a length sufficient to extend rearward from auser's chin at least as far as the user's cheekbone and at leastpartially extending above a bottom portion of the user's jaw.

In one embodiment, the head support comprises one or more straps forextending behind the user's back. The one or more straps can bedisposable over a user's back for holding the head support in place whenthe user reclines against a seat, thereby pressing against the one ormore straps. The one or more straps can be between approximately 10inches and approximately 80 inches in length and can optionally comprisea grip-like material to inhibit them from slipping when the user isreclining against them. Further, the one or more straps can comprise aweight disposed at an end of the strap that enables the strap to bedropped into place behind a user's back.

In one embodiment, the head support's bendable material can comprise awire of between approximately 7 gauge and approximately 14 gauge. Thewire can be covered with a polymer foam material or other type ofmaterial that can be between approximately 0.5 inches and approximately5 inches in diameter. The material can be resilient, and/or wipeable,and/or moisture impermeable. Alternatively, the material can be coveredwith a washable fabric cover.

In one embodiment, the head support's bendable material can be betweenapproximately 30 inches and approximately 48 inches in length.Optionally, an embodiment of the head support can comprise shoulderresting extensions to hold the head support in place.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will be setforth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following,or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects andadvantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a partof the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the presentinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose ofillustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and arenot to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, with the oppositeside being significantly similar;

FIG. 5 is a perspective back view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is another embodiment of back straps for holding a head support;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a chin pocket; and

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the loop showing a foam materialsurrounding a wire core.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of embodimentsof the invention, not limitation of the invention.

As used throughout this specification and claims, the term resilientmeans returning to the original form or position after being bent,compressed, or stretched. As used throughout this specification andclaims, the term “grip-like” means a material that possesses asufficient degree of friction that confers to the material the propertyof being non-slippery.

Moreover, as used throughout this specification and claims, the termwire means a slender, string-like piece or filament, either of a singlefilament or of several filaments woven or twisted together, ofrelatively rigid or flexible metal, usually circular in section,manufactured in a great variety of diameters and metals depending on itsapplication.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a head support 10 is shown comprising chin area12, sides 14, base 16, and one or more straps 18. Head support 10 may beformed from looped bendable material. The loop is bent at its topportion to form chin area 12, wherein chin area 12 is capable ofreceiving a user's face and maintaining the user's head in an uprightposition, preventing the user's head from falling forward while the usersleeps in a sitting position. Optionally, chin area 12, or a portion ofit can be distinctly shaped to create chin pocket 13 to improve comfort.The loop does not interfere with a user's hair or make up on a user'sface. The loop is adjustable and moldable to any type of head or face.

Sides 14 bending a length sufficient to extend rearward from a user'schin at least as far as a user's cheekbone, and at least partiallyextending above a bottom portion of the user's jaw to prevent thelateral movement of the user's head.

The bottom portion of the loop can preferably be shaped to form base 16.Base 16 is preferably connected to the top portion for supporting thetop portion preferably when the bottom portion is disposed against auser's chest.

In one embodiment, the flexible material can comprise a wire, preferablybetween approximately 7 gauge and approximately 14 gauge.

In one embodiment the wire is preferably covered with a polymer or othertype of foam material. The material can be applied through injectionmolding, or extrusion, or any other appropriate manner, or simply placedaround the wire. The material can preferably be resilient. In oneembodiment the foam material is between approximately 0.5 inches andapproximately 5 inches in diameter. The material can be wipeable andimpermeable to moisture, and can preferably be manufactured in a varietyof colors. Chin pocket 13 can optionally be manufactured of the same ora similar material for comfort. FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of chinpocket 13 that can be manufactured separately and then combined with thehead support. FIG. 10 shows one embodiment of the present inventionwhere wire 15 is surrounded by material 17.

In another embodiment, a washable, removable fabric cover is disposed ontop of the material.

One embodiment of the invention comprises one or more straps 18 that areconnected to the loop, preferably to sides 14, and that are extendableover the user's back for holding the apparatus in place when the userreclines against a seat, thereby pressing against the one or morestraps. Straps 18 can preferably be between approximately 10 inches andapproximately 80 inches in length.

Straps 18 are placed over the user's back and hold the apparatus inplace when the user reclines against a seat pressing against straps 18.Straps 18 can be covered with a grip-like material, or a grip-likematerial can be adhered to straps 18 to help prevent straps 18 fromslipping while the apparatus is being used.

In one embodiment, straps 18 are sewn together beginning at betweenapproximately 5 and approximately 60 inches from their side mostproximate to the loop, in order to create a wider single strap 18 forimproved contact at its most distal end from the loop, between a user'slower back and a seat.

In yet another embodiment, a small weight disposed at an end of thestrap to enable the strap to be dropped into place behind a user's back.The strap itself can be manufactured from a weighed material or materialcan be added to the strap that has a grip like property.

FIG. 8 illustrates a different embodiment of the straps where two strapscan attached to the sides of a head support and then join to make a widejoint whereon a user can recline to hold a head support in place. Alarge joint like the one illustrated in FIG. 8 can have, but does notnecessarily need, weights added to it because of the weight of thematerial.

In another embodiment, head support 20 comprises backward extensions atthe sides of base 22, forming shoulder resting extensions 24 to holdsupport 20 in place. See FIG. 7. Shoulder resting extensions 24 canoptionally be formed of the same material employed to form the loop ofhead support 20. Optionally, resting areas 24 can be made of a materialthat is bendable and so that they can be shaped to best fit the user.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limitingexamples.

Example 1

A head support was manufactured by shaping a loop made withapproximately forty two inches of 9 gauge wire covered with a resilientpolymer foam/rubber material approximately 2 inches in diameter. Aremovable micro-fiber cover with sewn Velcro was secured on top of thefoam. The loop's top portion was shaped to form a chin area, where thechin area was capable of receiving a user's face and maintain the user'shead in an upright position, preventing the user's head from fallingforward while sleeping in a sitting position. The sides of the topportion of the loop were extended rearward from a user's chin above theuser's jaw to the cheekbone to prevent the lateral movement of theuser's head. The loop's bottom portion was shaped to form a wide basecapable of resting on the user's upper chest between the clavicle area.

Fifty five inch straps were sewn to the sides of the top portion, andsewn together twenty six inches from their bottom ends to create a widerstrap toward the user's lower back. A small weight was placed at the endof this wider strap at the farthest point from the loop.

The head support was very comfortable and provided a feeling ofweightlessness when sleeping in an upright position. The head supportdid not interfere with the hairdo or make up of the users. When usedduring road traveling, the head support was shock absorbent when thevehicle hit a bump or during a sudden stop. Because the head support didnot interfere with the user's carotid arteries, jugular veins, ortrachea, the user's did not experience any adverse effects such asdizziness, or headaches.

The preceding examples can be repeated with similar success bysubstituting the generically or specifically described reactants and/oroperating conditions of this invention for those used in the precedingexamples.

Note that in the specification and claims, “about” or “approximately”means within twenty percent (20%) of the numerical amount cited.

Although the invention has been described in detail with particularreference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achievethe same results. Variations and modifications of the present inventionwill be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. Theentire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, andpublications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.

1. A head support comprising: an adjustable loop comprising a bendable material comprising a top and a bottom portion, said bottom portion connected to said top portion for supporting said top portion when said bottom portion is disposed against a user's chest; and said top portion comprising two side portions, each side portion having a length sufficient to extend rearward from a user's chin at least as far as said user's cheekbone and at least partially extending above a bottom portion of said user's jaw.
 2. The head support of claim 1 further comprising one or more straps for extending behind the user's back.
 3. The head support of claim 2 wherein said one or more straps are disposable over said user's back for holding said head support in place when said user reclines against a seat, thereby pressing against said one or more straps.
 4. The head support of claim 1 wherein said bendable material comprises a wire.
 5. The head support of claim 4 wherein said wire has a size between approximately 7 gauge and approximately 14 gauge.
 6. The head support of claim 4 wherein said wire is covered with a polymer foam material.
 7. The head support of claim 6 wherein said polymer foam material is between approximately 0.5 inches and approximately 5 inches in diameter.
 8. The head support of claim 6 wherein said polymer foam material is resilient.
 9. The head support of claim 6 wherein said polymer foam material is wipeable.
 10. The head support of claim 6 wherein said polymer foam material is moisture impermeable.
 11. The head support of claim 1 wherein said bendable material is between approximately 30 inches and approximately 48 inches in length.
 12. The head support of claim 2 wherein said one or more straps are between approximately 10 inches and approximately 80 inches in length.
 13. The head support of claim 12 wherein said one or more straps comprise a grip-like material to inhibit them from slipping when said user is reclining against them.
 14. The head support of claim 10 wherein each of said one or more straps comprises a weight disposed at an end of said strap that enables said strap to be dropped into place behind a user's back.
 15. The head support of claim 1 wherein said head support comprises a washable fabric cover.
 16. The head support of claim 1 further comprising shoulder resting extensions to hold said head support in place. 